"At the moment there's only a pelican crossing but I think none of this would have happened if there had been a zebra crossing.

"Robert has had two major operations to put plates in his leg and although he's been allowed home he is in a lot of pain." The youngster was out with a 12-year-old friend early on Monday night when he was hit by a car as he crossed the road.

Mr Office and Robert's mum, Joanne Hepple, a domestic cleaner, stayed at the hospital while the boy underwent surgery.

Mr Office said: "He has been traumatised by this. He's not his usual self at all.

"We've been at the hospital all the time and he had more surgery on Thursday morning.

"It's a really nasty injury. The pain is keeping him awake at night."

Police are looking into the cause of the accident, but no-one has been charged in connection.

Chief Insp Derek Scott ,of the Tynemouth area command, said: "There has been a collision and the matter is under investigation by motor patrols."